The North Carolina Tar Heels trailed by 14 points early in the second half, but rallied for a 31-27 win over the San Diego State Aztecs at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday night.
The visiting Aztecs (1-1) bounced back from Brian Walker’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter to score three straight touchdowns, taking as 21-7 lead early in the third quarter.
Walker’s touchdown opened the scoring:
for a 56-yard score to tie the game at 7-7 with 9:38 to go in the first half.
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Jon Sanchez intercepted Mitch Trubisky’s pass on UNC’s next possession, setting the Aztecs up in great field position at the UNC 29.
The Tar Heels (2-0) had San Diego State stopped on a fourth-and-5, but Tyler Powell was flagged for a personal foul and two players later, Donnel Pumphrey ran for a 12-yard touchdown to put the Aztec s up 14-7.
Thomas Moore missed a 41-yard field goal on North Carolina’s first possession of the second half and San Diego State took advantage, marching 76 yards in seven plays—the bulk of it on a 59-yard connection between Kaehler and Ezell Ruffin—to set up Pumphrey’s 3-yard run that put the Aztecs on top 21-7.
North Carolina’s offense responded with a methodical drive, going 65 yards on 14 plays. The drive was capped by Marquise Williams’ 11-yard touchdown toss to Quinshad Davis with 4:40 left in the third quarter.
Donny Hageman booted a 49-yard field goal to put San Diego State up 24-14 with 13:56 to play and the Aztecs had the Tar Heels backed up inside their own 10-yard line after a holding call on the ensuing kickoff.
North Carolina went for it all on first down, with Williams hitting Mack Hollins down the right side for a 91-yard touchdown that got the Tar Heels to within 24-21.
Hageman’s 40-yard field goal with 10:25 left put the Aztecs up 27-21, but Williams led the Heels on an 80-yard drive—37 of it coming on back-to-back completions to Ryan Switzer. Elijah Hood pounded into the end zone from two yards out to give the Heels the lead 28-27.
On the next drive, Walker picked off Kaehler again, setting up a 23-yard field goal by Nick Weiler that capped the scoring.
San Diego State had a chance, driving to the North Carolina 3, but Kaehler’s final pass was picked off in the end zone by Tim Scott and the Tar Heels killed the clock to close out the win.
Williams was 20-for-29 for 255 yards and two scores and also ran for 63 yards on 12 carries.
Pumphrey had 100 yards on 17 carries for the Aztecs and Chase Price chipped in 71 yards on 16 carries, while Kaehler was 23-for-39 for 341 yards and a touchdown, but with three interceptions.
San Diego State rolled up 509 yards of total offense to 394 for North Carolina.
The Aztecs are idle until visiting Oregon State on Sept. 20.
North Carolina is also off next week, returning with a road game at East Carolina on Sept. 20.